VIDEO: Croke Park rises in moving tribute to victims of Berkeley and Harris tragedies

Mon, 29 Jun, 2015 - 11:19

Shaun Cronin

The victims of the

Fans of Dublin, Kildare, Meath and Westmeath rose from their seats in the 16th minute of Dublin v Kildare for a minute’s applause in remembrance to those lost in both tragedies. The tribute is thought to be one of the first of its kind at a GAA match.

Dublin GAA fans the Hill 16 Army

Dublin supporters Alan and Steve Harris died earlier this month after they were overcome by fumes in a sewer, while inspecting underground pipes in the Portmarnock area of north Dublin.

On the 16th minute something special happened for Alan & Stephen Harris & the Berkeley6 #WeAllMadeItHappen #ThankYou pic.twitter.com/oKu1FKRF4X
— AllIrishSport (@AllIrishSport) June 28, 2015

The Hill 16 Army had originally planned the tribute for the Harris brothers, who are cousins of Republic of Ireland striker Robbie Keane, until the heartbreaking events in Berkeley, California on June 16 that saw six Irish students die in a balcony collapse.

Irish students Eoghan Culligan, Niccolai Schuster, Lorcan Miller, Eimear Walsh, Olivia Burke and Ashley Donohoe were killed after a balcony they were standing on collapsed while they were attending a 21st birthday party.

After organising the tribute the Hill 16 Army’s hoped that word of the tribute would spread via social media, so that everyone would join in and they saw their efforts came to fruition yesterday as the poignant applause rang around the massive stadium.

The three Irish people killed in the

Following the game Dave Sherlock and Barry Fennell, who run the Hill 16 Army page, met members of the Harris family. The Harris family gathered around Dave and Barry in a circle and gave them a round of applause to thank them for the tribute to the brothers.